Sport Blowing white smoke???

[RolinCode3]

Having the exact same issue, and in the same manner...2014 Explorer Sport, 140k miles

Back in March, had the water pump replaced. We were smelling burning oil the day we picked it up, but couldn't locate any problem...no puddles in the driveway, nothing noticeable under the hood. Fast forward 5 weeks...

Sitting at idle a couple weeks ago (was only sitting for about 5 minutes), I noticed the engine chug twice in a span of a few seconds just before I pulled away from the curb (transmission was in park at the time). Less than a block away, I noticed the smoke billowing out of the tailpipes. I pulled over and had it towed to the dealership.

They did a back pressure test immediately and said "it's a bad PCV valve" and referenced TSB 14-0196. They replaced it (and the vent tube), reprogrammed the PCM and we got it back the next day. It was fine for 5 days.

My wife was sitting in the drive thru at Starbucks and it started idling rough, then started spewing smoke from both tailpipes. She drove it home 2 miles and parked it. I drove it the next day 15 miles to the dealership and it was fine. They performed the second part of TSB 14-0196 (even subsidizing part of the labor because they removed the right valve cover when they replaced the water pump and I argued that it may have caused the problem, orthey should have seen a problem if there was one there), and now they are telling us it's still smoking. I don't know what the next step is...replace the turbo? I feel like they are just guessing what the problem is now.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
Not sure what to tell you or if this would help. what does it mean when the exhaust is white smoke - Google Search
There is also a TSB on this for the 2016/17 Explorers. I don't know if the fix is the same for other years. List of Useful Threads - 2011 + Explorer TSB's & SSM's

Peter

 

[Salt city]

Nope.

It's oil. Mine has done this 5 or 6 times. It's not done it recently which is unusual. I was suspecting one of the turbo bearings leaking oil internally.

I am unable to show the dealer because it's so sporadic that it would be practically impossible.


I know you said the smoke was white and yours very well could be a different issue but next time you see it double check the color of the smoke. Mine was a very light blue.

Plan is to let it get bad enough to show the dealer.

Did you ever find out the problem? My 2017 explorer just had smoke coming from the exhaust. Dealership ran a diagnostic and couldn’t find anything. Oil and coolant levels fine. Have a long drive ahead... nervous about what it is

 

[Salt city]

was at work in car resting with the car running for about a hour... I turned car off went in work came back out 10 minutes later got in car started it and took off and it was blowing a ton of white smoke outta both tail pipes for about a minute... It eventually stopped and i could not get it to do it again... Going to check intake to see if there is any oil in there now... anyone else ever experience anything like this??? I have a trip to bowling green KY Wednesday and im suppose to be towing a trailer... nervous now....

Did you ever find out the cause? My 2017 is doing the same today

 

[peterk9]

Did you ever find out the cause? My 2017 is doing the same today

Welcome to the Forum.
FYI, the members you quoted above haven't been seen here since March 12, 2018 and January 31, 2018 respectively.

Peter

 

[Salt city]

Welcome to the Forum.
FYI, the members you quoted above haven't been seen here since March 12, 2018 and January 31, 2018 respectively.

Peter

Bummer

 

[Bstard2001]

Did you ever find out the cause? My 2017 is doing the same today

I had a 17 Sport that was blowing white smoke pretty bad. The dealer replaced the PCV Elbow assembly and the PCM was reprogrammed. Service bulletin for that issue was TSB# 17-2255. Never had anymore issues after that. Hope it helps!!!

 

[GBot]

I had a 17 Sport that was blowing white smoke pretty bad. The dealer replaced the PCV Elbow assembly and the PCM was reprogrammed. Service bulletin for that issue was TSB# 17-2255. Never had anymore issues after that. Hope it helps!!!

Thanks for the heads up! While searching for additional information about the service bulletin you mentioned I found TSB 17-0063 which applies to 2013-2015 Explorers as well. Hopefully it's not too expensive to have my 2014 Sport serviced since I'm out of warranty.

 

[Bstard2001]

Thanks for the heads up! While searching for additional information about the service bulletin you mentioned I found TSB 17-0063 which applies to 2013-2015 Explorers as well. Hopefully it's not too expensive to have my 2014 Sport serviced since I'm out of warranty.

Hey just curious as to what was the outcome with the white smoke issue?

 

[GBot]

Hey just curious as to what was the outcome with the white smoke issue?

Life has gotten in the way and I haven't done anything about it yet. Hope to take it in for service before summer. I'm optimistic that the service bulletin will address the issue since it seems to be describing exactly the issue I'm having.

 

[ecoboost_xsport]

Hmmm, interesting. I'm looking at the SB and the diagram for TSB 17-0063 (I've got a 2015 XSport) and it shows the front adapter needing replacement to the new PN: HL2Z-6762-A, which is green in color. The TSB asks if the current adapter is black, which mine is. So I guess this pertains to me? The rear one is brown, however. My real question is, the rear valve cover has that brown PCV Adapter (PN: KR3Z-6A666-A). Does this pertain to changing both front and rear adapters to the new green ones or keep the rear one brown and change only the front one to the green?

 

[GBot]

Hey just curious as to what was the outcome with the white smoke issue?

FYI, I just picked up my '14 Sport from my local Ford service department. They charged me about $40 for the part and two hours of labor ($170/hour) to do what the TSB indicated. I've only had the smoke while idling problem a few times, so it's hard to say whether the issue is solved or not (realistically I'll never get around to trying to reproduce the issue on purpose) but it seems like it should be. Hope that was money well spent. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Edit: Went on a road trip a few weeks ago. My buddy and his family in my Explorer, me in my wife's Expedition. 366 miles each way, plus a side trip to play golf. No white smoke witnessed or reported. Can't confirm that there were long periods of sitting idle, but I'm pretty sure there were. Could've been embarrassing and/or led to needless worry, so I'm glad that there were no problems and have no regrets about doing the repair. In case anyone was wondering...

 

[lawandorder815]

Hi. So i came across this thread searching for the issue i have. I have the smoke issue after idling. Havent checked the PCV valve yet but mine is a 2018 Explorer Sport. I havent seen any type of info that includes the 2018 model year. Any thoughts?

 

[peterk9]

Hi. So i came across this thread searching for the issue i have. I have the smoke issue after idling. Havent checked the PCV valve yet but mine is a 2018 Explorer Sport. I havent seen any type of info that includes the 2018 model year. Any thoughts?

Although the TSB doesn't say it covers the 2018, if the issue is the same then likely the fix would be the same. You can always check with your dealership.

Peter

 

[ecoboost_xsport]

Or it could be a turbo going out. It happens more often than I'd like to hear, but that rear turbo seems to get blown seals from time to time. Just something to be cognizant of...

 

[lawandorder815]

Hi, so quick update after lots of time at dealer and insisting they keep looking they found that the clip and rod that controls the waste gate etc were missing and had fallen off. Thought a warranty issue but they would not warranty it. Paid 370 dollars which was all labor and 55 in parts. Argued the service decision they stated its not a covered part. Didnt care about TSBs on other motors with same issue, or if it wasnt found and fixed the turbo or worse would create a more expensive repair that was warranty covered. So here i am .

 

[Itscodyf]

Or it could be a turbo going out. It happens more often than I'd like to hear, but that rear turbo seems to get blown seals from time to time. Just something to be cognizant of...

We are way out of warranty. But I’m having similar issues. What kind of job is it to replace rear turbo and is the wastegate apart of that part or something separately.

 

[ecoboost_xsport]

We are way out of warranty. But I’m having similar issues. What kind of job is it to replace rear turbo and is the wastegate apart of that part or something separately.

Wastegate is integrated into the turbo. The rear turbo can be a pain to remove. There are a number of ways. Some do it from the passenger wheel well and remove the axle and some drop the subframe slightly.

 

[Itscodyf]

Wastegate is integrated into the turbo. The rear turbo can be a pain to remove. There are a number of ways. Some do it from the passenger wheel well and remove the axle and some drop the subframe slightly.

Thank you, is the rear considered the Left or Right turbo?

 

[ecoboost_xsport]

Thank you, is the rear considered the Left or Right turbo?

Considered the right